Chapter 36:The Mind's Abyss

The moment Mri stepped through the door, his surroundings shifted. Darkness enveloped him, swallowing every sense of direction.

A chilling voice echoed in his mind.

> "Welcome, challenger. Let's see if your mind can withstand… itself."

Suddenly, the darkness melted away, replaced by a familiar sight—his home in Assam. The air smelled of rain-soaked earth, and the distant sound of the Brahmaputra River echoed in his ears.

But something was off.

His house stood abandoned, the wooden walls cracked, vines creeping over the structure. The front door creaked open on its own.

> "Come inside."

Mri's fists clenched. He knew this wasn't real. He had entered the Trial of the Mind, yet his feet moved forward involuntarily.

Facing the Illusions

The moment he stepped inside, shadows swirled, forming figures from his past.

His father, standing in the dim light, his back turned.

His mother, whispering something he couldn't hear.

And then…

A mirror appeared in front of him.

Inside it, he saw himself—but his reflection was twisted. His aura was dark. His eyes glowed with a violent crimson hue.

> "This is your true self."

The reflection smirked.

> "The monster you're trying to suppress."

Mri's heartbeat pounded in his ears. His hands trembled. He had always feared losing control, feared the power inside him.

> "Break the illusion, Mri," Jasmine's voice echoed in the distance. "It's not real!"

Mri took a shaky breath. No. This wasn't real.

His fist shot forward, shattering the mirror into a thousand shards.

The illusion collapsed.

The Trial Continues

The darkness returned, but this time, Mri felt lighter—more aware. The test was designed to break him, to exploit his fears.

But he refused to fall.

In the distance, he could hear Jasmine and Shahid's voices, facing their own trials. He had to find them.

Because this test was far from over.